Energy Secretary Ed Davey said today that fracking could resume in the UK,
subject to new controls which aim to reduce the risk of seismic activity.

He said the method could contribute significantly to energy security for the
UK and be used instead of importing gas from abroad.

In the US, where the technique is already in use, fracking sent energy prices
plummeting and David Cameron has hopes the UK will enjoy the same.

Cuadrilla’s sites in Lancashire are estimated to be sitting on an estimated
300trillion cubic feet of gas – the same as 17 times the remaining reserves
in the North Sea.

Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said: “Communities up
and down the country will be disturbed by this reckless decision which
threatens to contaminate our air and water and undermine national climate
targets.”